Lotion Pump Locking Tube Segmentation for Liquid Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water-ingress-preventing mechanisms for lotion pumps are inadequate in completely preventing foreign liquids from entering the container, leading to contamination of the product, especially when used in moist environments.
Innovation Solution
The mechanism incorporates a locking tube portion with a longitudinal slot and a helical thread configuration, ensuring continuous communication between the container interior and atmosphere, preventing liquid ingress even when the locking tube dips into deposited water, and utilizing an annular rib for sealing to block foreign substances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking tube portion is pressed down to engage with the annular recess for secure locking, then the locking reliability is improved, but the risk of liquid ingress increases when water is deposited in the recess
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tube portion is segmented with longitudinal slots that divide the tube wall into multiple sections. This segmentation allows air to pass through multiple paths around the deposited liquid, maintaining air communication while allowing the locking tube to engage with the annular recess for secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal slots create additional dimensional pathways through the locking tube wall. Instead of relying solely on radial air passage, the slots provide axial and circumferential paths for air to bypass deposited liquid in the annular recess, resolving the contradiction between locking engagement and liquid ingress prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the guide sleeve extends beyond the cylinder cover to prevent water ingress, then the water prevention capability is improved, but air communication may be blocked when locking tube dips into deposited water
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sleeve is segmented with longitudinal slots that create multiple air passage paths. When the locking tube dips into deposited water in the annular recess, air can still communicate with the container interior through these segmented paths around the liquid barrier, maintaining reliability while the guide sleeve prevents water ingress.
3Strength
If the locking tube portion is designed to thread into the annular recess for secure locking, then the locking strength is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tube portion combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, creates the locking engagement through threading into the annular recess, and maintains air communication through longitudinal slots. This merging reduces the need for separate air passage components while maintaining locking strength.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a water-ingress-preventing mechanism for a lotion pump. The mechanism is mainly used for a lotion pump mounted on a container with a liquid therein and is able to effectively prevent foreign liquids from entering the container. According to one aspect of the invention, in the locking tube portion (13) of the press head (10) is formed at least one longitudinal slot (15) which extends upwards from the lower end edge of the locking tube portion over at least part of the length of the locking tube portion. The slot is disposed such that the upper end of the slot is at a position above the top surface (25) of the cylinder cover (20) when the press head is pressed down to and at the lower stop position of its press stroke with respect to the cylinder cover. According to another aspect of the invention, the external thread (14) on the locking tube portion extends helically upwards from the lower end edge of the locking tube portion, whereas the internal thread (26) in the central through-hole (21) in the cylinder cover extends helically downwards from the upper end edge of the central through-hole. The features in the both of the two aspects effectively prevent foreign liquids from being sucked into the container during operation of the lotion pump.